Carton blank folding machine



g- 1, 1950 A. F. SHIELDS 2,517,449

CARTON BLANK FOLDING mcam'a Filed June 3, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l m INVENTOR.

ALBERT F. SHIELDS A TTORNEVS Aug. 1, 1950 A. F. SHIELDS 2,517,449

CARTON BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 3, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Q (M A T TOP/V5 KS 1950 A. F. SHIELDS 2,517,449

CARTON BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1947 a Sheefs-Sheet s INVEN TOR. ALBERT F. SHIELDS QMMW A 7'TORNE VS Ailg- 1950 A. F. SHIELDS 2,517,449

CARTON BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 3, 1947 e Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ALBERT F. SHIELDS By 2 M A T TORNEVS Aug. 1, 1950 A. F. SHIELDS CARTON BLANK FOLDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 3, 1

INVENTOR. ALBERT F. SH/ELDS A T TOR/VEYS Aug. 1, 1950 V A. F. SHIELDS 2,517,449

CARTON BLANK FOLDING MACHINE V Filed June 3, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 seo =1 306 INVENTOR. ALBERT F. SH/EL 05 Arrow 75 Patented Aug. 1 1950 UNITED CARTON BLANK FOLDING MACHIN Albert F. Shields, Forest Hills, N. Y.,assignorto S. & S. Corrugated Paper Machinery 00., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 3, 1947, Serial No. 752,199

3 Claims- (Cl. 93-49) My present invention is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 696,085 filed September 11, 1946, and relates to carton blank folding machines and more particularly to a folding machine of the type generally shown in my prior Patent 2,336,507, wherein large size corrugated board or other paper blanks are to be passed from a stack through various folding elements and delivered to a tape applying mechanism.

In the making of cartons, it is necessary first to crease and slot the blanks in order properly to prepare them for the folding operation. Heretofore andprior to the advent of a specific folding machine for operating rapidly on blanks, it has been customary to fold these blanks manually and feed them into the taping machine. The folding operation for an ordinary square tubular box comprises bending over the two outer panels on the score lines so that the edges of the panels meet to form a collapsed tube. speed which can be expected from manual folding is of the order of from 10 to 30 blanks per minute. In addition, where the blanks have been incorrectly creased or scored prior to folding, it becomes necessary for the operator when bringing the edges of the foldedpanel together to twist the panels around the crease and adjust and reform the crease in order that the tube may be squared properly. This operation 1s very time consuming when performed manually; also the operator tends readily to place aside and discard blanks the panels of which are visibly askew, thus leading to a great deal of waste and additional operations. 1

My novel machine has for its primary purpose the rapid folding and delivering of the blanks.

at a rate ranging upward from 120 a minute to as high as 180 blanks per minute and even higher.

My novel device also embodies elements which will straighten and reform the crease in any blank in which the panels when folded are askew without slowing the rate of folding in any way.

Primarily my present invention is directed toward improvements in the device shown in my Patent 2,336,507 which improvements are invented in order to increase the folding rate of my machine, also to increase the range of the machine with regard to sheet sizes and materials to improve the reliability of operation and also to shorten the set-up time. These improvements include a stacking arrangement which will permit delivery of warped blanks to the folding apparatus, also where the side gages are automatically positioned when the folding width is set;

prefolding elements which will start the panels to be folded around their bent line just prior to The maximum ill tend the prefolding action; improved stop means which act on the unfolded portion of the blank for holding the blanksinproper position during folding; improved re-creasing means to r'e-form: the creases in blanks, the panels of which would otherwise be askew; improved means for adjusting the machine to varioussizes and arrangements of the blanks; and improved means for simplifying and integrating the drives for the various elements of the machine so that each operation will take place at the proper instant. Also, my novel machine includes added means 1 to insure bringing the blanks up to the stop 1111- der all conditions and preventing rebound; stripping means to insure that the folded blanks clear the retracted stop; folding bar limiting rolls to limit deflection of the folding bars and guide the folded blank into the straightening section.

Further objectsof the present invention in clude improved feed- 4n or kicker arrangements, improved hold-down slat adjustment, improved folding bar adjustment, and improved feed-out elements between the kicker and the folding bars. 1

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of mynovel irnproved folding machine.

Figure 2 is a side viewof the novel folding machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view partly in cross-section to be folded. i

Figure 5 is an end view of my novel machine taken from line 5--5'of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view partly in cross-section of; the front gauge of the stacking device taken from lineG-B of Figure-4, looking in the direction of the arrows. i 4 1 Figure 7 is a cross sectional view showing the foldingplates. l i

. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line B8 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is by the folding plates of my invention.

2 I the point where the blanks reach the folding: plates, improved plates which are curved to ex we manner in which the blank enters the region of an enlarged top plan view showing the arrangement of the pre-folding means for; preparing the panels of the blanks for foldin Figure is a side view of the pre-folding means of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an end view of the pre-folding means and stop device taken from line l'll l of Figure 10 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a side view partly broken away taken on line [2-12 of Figure 1 showing the means for operating the stop device out of stopping position after the blank has been folded.

Figure 13 is a detailed view taken from line, l3| 3 of Figures 1 and 3 showing the adjustment of the folding bars.

Figure 14 is a detail of the overrunning clutch feed-out arrangement.

Figure 15 is a detail of the forward end of the stacking table arrangement.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a stack of blanks 2B is placed on the bed 22 of the stacking section 2! of the machine between the rear gauge 23 and the front gauge 25. The bottom blank in the stack is fed toward the right by the feed slat 27 through the spaces, 35, 38 (Figure 6 between the front gauges 2,5, and the bar 3| on which the stack is placed. The spaces 3!! are adjusted so that they are just high. enough to permit one of the blanks 2!! to pass through while holding back the remainder of the stack. The blank passing through the spaces 3i! passes over the bar 3! and the i pushed by the feed slat, 2'! between the upper and lower feed rolls, and 36;, respectively (Fi ure 3). Feed rolls, 35 and, 36. engage the blank and carry it forward to the upper and lower feed rolls 31 and 3.8. Feed roll; 38 on the underside of the blank extends across, the width of the machine whereas the upper feed roll 31 actually consists of, two, rollers 31a and 311) (Figure l) which are adjustable so as to engage only the unfolded panel of the blank; that is, feed rollers 31a and 311;: are adjusted, so that they are just inside the fold line as defined by the folding bars 39 and 40.

The blanks are then fed by the feed rolls 31. and; 33 between; the upper and lower feed rolls 41, 42. Upper feed roll 41 actually consists of two feed rolls M and Mo occupying the same position respectively, as feed rolls 31a and. 3lb as shown in Figure l and, simultaneously adjustable with said feed rolls. The feed roll 42 on the underside is a single" roll extending entirely across the machine and is rotatably mounted between the levers 43 which in turn are rotatably mounted on the pins 44 on opposite sides of the machine carried on lugs of the cross-bracket 45. The lower end of cross-bracket 45' has secured thereto arm 45 having an opening through which the spring, guide rod 4'! passes (all of the foregoing ma readily be seen in Figure 3). (30mpression spring 48 around the guide rod-4*? bears between washer 49' on the underside of lever 43 and washer 50 on the upper side of arm 45 and' thus biases lever arm 43 upwardly to bias the idling roll of 42 upwardly to tightly press the blank against the upper feed roll 4i.

The maximum lift of lever 43 and thus the maximum rise of idling roll of 42 may be controlled by the adjustable nuts 5| 0n thelower end of theguide rod 47.

Rolls 35 and 38 are also spring biased in a manner similar. to the springing-means described for roll 42.

The blank is then carried under the folding bars 39 and 48' and over thefeedrolls 53, (see also Figure 10) which are rotatably mounted on each side on arms 54: rotatably.= supported on. a, center coaxial with shaft 55.

The feed rolls 53 are provided with standard overrunning clutch arrangement as shown in Figure 14. Rolls 53'will feed the blank at the speed of the chain hereinafter described when driven by their drive members also hereinafter described.

The overrunning clutch arrangement, however, permits the feed-out rolls in. front of the stacking device to feed out the blank at higher speed into the folding mechanism without initial interferenoe from the slower moving rolls 53. These rolls 53, because of the overruning clutch arrangement, will rotate faster at the speed of the blank as it is fed out; but will drive the blank after it is fed out at a slower speed against the stop hereinafter described. The slower speed prevents marring of the front edges of the blank.

Each of the arms 54 has an extension 56 on the opposite side of the opposite side of the shaft connected to tension spring 51, which in turn is connected, to a stationary lug 58 (Figures 3 and 10). The spring 51 biases the feed. rolls 53 upwardly to engage and drive the blank. The feed rolls 53. engage the blank on each side by pressing it up against. the folding bars 39 and 40 and thus carry the. blank; forward until its front edge engages the stops 58. mounted on stop bars 13. The forward progress of the blank is thus arrested while the feed, rolls 53 continue to rotate and. press the blank against. the stops 58.

While the blank is: in this position. with its forward edge against the two stops 58, the creases; or scores on which the fold is. to take place are in register with the outer sides of the folding bars 39 and 4D. This is, of course, obtained by an appropriate adjustment of the machine as. hereinafter described, prior tothe beginning of. a run and lay-appropriate.stacking of the blanks.

The folding bars. 39. and 40. may be vertically adjusted to accommodate for different. thick:- nesses of blanks; They are. secured at: the. front; flanges 40a. or; brackets 33.2 (Figures 1., 3, and 13) by slots 40b. in the vertical. flanges 4.00. of. bars 353V and 4'5 which are engaged. by clamping nuts 4911.. These nuts may be loosened to permit. the. bars. 39 and 40 to be raised or lowered. andm'ay' then be tightened again.

While the blank is in the stop. position. against, stop 58, the folding plates. 30 (Figure l) which are eachheld on their respective cross arms 6t are driven around to fold the. blank. Each of the cross arms 6! which supports its folding. plate 60 is driven by link 62 whichv connects it to the crank 63, which in turn is driven from the. foldin blank operating box 64. The drive for' folding plate 60 is thus substantially the; same as described in my prior Patent.2;336,507.;.

The folding plate 68 is driven around by. themechanism'thus described to fold the side. panels of the blank around the folding bars 39 and 40. and to fold them down: flat upon the remainder of the blank. The foldingv operation is facili'- tated first byreasonof. the fact that: the folding.v plates 60 and 6| are downwardly bent at. 61 in order that the sidepanels of the: blankmay. readily ride up thereon. Also, the fol'dingnperation. is further. facilitated by; means of. the;de-

fleeting plate,- l'li on each side (seen specificallyin Figures 9 to .111) each of which terminate in. an angularly positioned; roller ll so that the. side. panels are foldedup of the order of 25 between plate wand roller. H on each side even before;- theblank-reaches the folding position. Therside;

panels are. thus: given. an initial: angularity with;

The stop bars I3 are as shown in Figure sup-H ported by the bracket arm which in turn is pivotally supported on the fixed shaft l6 on each.

side. a I I The stop bar I3 on each side has a downward extension I8, the lower end of which is connected by eye bolt 19 to the tension spring so, which in turn is connected to the lug 8| secured to the U-shaped members 22a which are'fixed to the width of the folding boxes and adjusted with them. Accordingly, the stop bar 13 on each side is maintained in raised position. The Umembers 22a serve to support the blank while in the folding section and then also serve to strip the folded blank; from the stop when it retracts.

The two downward extensions it on each side of the machine each carry a roller 84. which is engaged by the lever bar 85a on the levers 85 on shaft 86. After the folding operation has been completed, the shaft 85 is rotated counterclockwise to rotate the lever 85 counterclockwise and push down the rollers 84 of extensions l8. This pushes down the stop bars 13 which movedown with the bracket 75 which in turn rotates about the shaft 16. 58 on each side and thus removes the stop members from the leading edge of the blank.

The machine is so arranged and timed that as soon as the stops 58 are depressed by the action of lever 85, slat 90 mounted across the chains SI moves up into engagement with the rear of the folded blank and moves the blank beneath the hold-down strip 92 which strip is adjustably supported.

Hold-down slat 92 is provided with a rack 92a engaged by pinion 93 on shaft 94 provided with handle 94a. Rotation of handle 94a will adjust the hold-down slat 92 longitudinally by feed screw 93 operated by knurled knob 94 on the cross bar 95. The hold-down strip is adjusted so I that it extends just in front of the steps 58. The front end is curved upwardl so that panels which tend to spring up after being folded will be guided down again and their edges brought to abutting position. As soon as the slat 9b on chains Bl engages and moves it forward further through the machine, the guide presses down on the same between the panels and prevents the folded blank from opening up.

The blank is then carried forwardbetween the z limiting rolls I00, ml which as shown in Figure 3 loosely control the position of the delivery end of folding bars 39 and All. Since thefolding bars 39 and 4B are supported from the front-guide elements of the stacking device and since the free or delivery ends of the folding bar are sub stantially distant from their supports, they may be moved through a small angle. I

The rollers Hill, llll above and below. respectively. each of the folding bars 39 and 4!! limit the upward and downward movement of the free ends of the folding bars 39 and All! so that they will not be flexed to too great an extent. These rollers also serve, in addition to controlling the position of the free ends of the folding bars 39 and ii), to control the blank and hold it in a somewhat central position so thatthe edges of the blank will be properly engaged by the straighteningrollsllfl. I

Theustraightening rolls II B are each mounted This in turn pulls down the stops on stub shafts I I I which in turn are supported on the adjustable plate I I2, I I2. rolls I Ill on each side are aligned with each other and are provided with grooves as shown in Figure 3 adapted to receive the folded edge of the blank;

The plates H2, H2 are adjusted so that the pe. ripheries of the alignedrollers H0 on each side. are spaced apart by a distance which is slightly less than the width of the folded blank. The slat forces the blank between the rolls I ID with the edges of the blank riding in the annular grooves on each side.

The movement of the slat which maintainsfthe body of the blank normal to its direction ofitravel, holds the blank at the correct angles with respect to the rolls I In so that in a properly folded blank, the crease is adjusted regularly on each side; Where the score line was initially incorrect. or where the panel was folded improperly, the; score lines are adjusted and straightened so that res creasing rolls I20 may then recreaseor press the fold properly. The rolls IIIl adjust and spread the crease to a greater width at that portion of. the blank which has been widened bythe skewed-i folding. As the blank leavesthe crease adjusting rolls I II], it passes between the pressure rollsIZfi, E20 which recreases the blanks as the blanks are delivered. Since the blank is maintained with its side edges exactly parallel to its path of move-y ment by the slat 90, the recreasing operation per-,

formed by recreasing rolls I20 forms the crease in? exactly the right position.

I have found that panels which have been: skewed so that the trailing orleading edgepf'the. panel projects overjthe edge of the mainbody of. the box by more than a quarter of aninch have. been straightened and properly recreased-by this operation. Blanks which had been-improperly scored, so that when foldedup the'panel would; be skewed, have been corrected and straightened during the passage through the folding machine.

My machine,thereforareduces the waste of; blanks and makes it possible to utilize blanks even though they have been improperly. or'carelessly creased 0r scored- 1 1 1..l}-1..

This type of recreasin operation has also. been described in my prior Patent 2,336,507 wherein several spaced crease adjusting rolls areshown on each side. While spaced crease adjusting rolls have been able properly to recrease and correct; skewed blanks, I havefound that by placing the crease adjusting rolls I ID in closely spaced rela-.;. tion as shown in Figures 1 and 3,. a, greater-degree of skew maybe corrected. t

Each of the said slats 90 mounted acrossthe chains 9i has a recess I30 so that it may readily slide or move on either side of the hold-down slat;

92. I m. m

The folded blanks are preferably delivered to a taping machine and the bar I26a serves toiholdj down the panels of the folded blank rightup to the point of tape application. Side guides a. are provided to guide the blanks into the; straightening section without marring the front-corners; of thebox.

The apparatus comprises, as previously pointed out, a number of improved elements, each jof? which cooperate with each other andwith the en tire machine in order to provide for increased speedand facility of operation. I N Referring to Figure 5, a variable speedDu'Cr motor I50 with the sprocket l'a'li-idrivesi the Straightening.

Since the rolls are thus spacedslightly closer together than the width of the '7 sprocket I52 which is mounted on shaft I53 which carries sprocket I54 of Figure 1. Sprocket I54 provides power to pull the chains i. Chains 9i are in turn held by idler sprockets I55 on shaft I56 (Figures 1 and 3). Idler sprocket 151 (Figure 3) .is adjustably mounted to tighten the chains. Shaft I53 also holds sprocket i130 which in turn drives sprockets I6 I, I62, and 563 thus driving the lower delivery shaft I41 and the upper delivery is side gauge 326 shown also in Figures 2 and 6. Referring to Figure 1, the end of shaft I53 shaft I40 and the taper cam shaft I 50.

holds a bevel gear I10 which drives bevel gear I1l onshaft I12. Bevel gear. I13 on shaft I12 (also inFigure 12) drives bevel gear I14 on stud I15 and so drives drop-off cam I16 which is mounted 2;

on bevel gear I14. Roller I11 on arm I18 engages the periphery of cam I16; thus an oscillatory motion is imparted to lever I18 and to shaft 86 on which it is mounted; the shaft 85 as mentioned before serves to retract the stop 58. screw I80 held in housing l8l engages an arm of lever I18 and serves to limit the angular motion of the lever I18 and also of the shaft 86.

Referring back to Figure 1, the shaft I12 is connected to shaft 200 by means of the coupling 20 I. Bevel gear 202 on shaft 200 drives bevel gear 203 on shaft 204 which provides power to both of the folding boxes 64. Bevel gear 205 on shaft 200 drives bevel gear 206 on shaft 201 and thus turns the spur gear 208 which also is keyed to shaft 281. Referring to Figure 2, gear 208 meshes with gear 200, 2I0, and 2H and thus drives gears 220, 22I and 222. Gear 222 drives gear 223. It can be seen that by means of this gearing the feed rolls 35, 3B, 31, 38 and 41 are all driven. Also that z 1 gears and 38 are pivotally held on the centers of gears 222 and 200, respectively, so that these feed rolls when spring biased will adjust themselves to any thickness of blank.

Referring back to Figure 1, gear 230 on shaft 200 drives gear 23I which holds bevel gear 232. Bevel gear 232 drives bevel gear 233 on the kicker drive shaft 234.

Referring to Figure 4, the crank 235 which is keyed to 234 drives link 236 which in turn drives crank 231 and link 238. Link 238 is a pin-connected link which transfers the variable rotary motion of pin 239 on link 231 to a variable reciprocating motion of pin 240 on kicker carriage 2 11. Carriage 241 carries the kicker bar 242 in such a manner that the bar is adjustable relatively to the carriage by means of the T-shaped member 243 and the screw 244. The spring kickers 21 are mounted on the kicker bar 242 in order to obtain adjustment for uneven blanks.

The bar 3I cooperating with the elevated kicker makes it possible to take warped sheets without interfering with kicking or ejecting operation.

Set 15 Bar 3| is undercut at 3Ia to permit the spring kickers 21 to enter beneath and thus make possible the feeding out of short sheets.

' All members which engage the edges of the blank are provided with nuts which in turn are driven by screws all of which are driven from a common source on each side of the machine in order toadjust'the machine for different widths of blanks.

The motor 300 in Figure 2 drives the shaft 30I through a wormgear reduction 302. Shaft 301 holds a sprocket 303 (Figure 1) which engages a chain 304 which passes over sprockets 305, 335, and 301. Sprockets 305, 306 and 301 drive screws 308, 309 of Figure 10 and 310 of Figure 1, respectlvely, and these in turn serve to adjust the straightening roll bracket H2, the stop and de- 8 flector assembly of Figure 10, and the folding box 64 of Figure 1, respectively. At the other end of shaft 30l is a sprocket 320 which by means of chain 321 drives sprockets 322 and 323. Sprocket 324 is an idler for the purpose of tightening chain 32 I.

Referring to Figure 6, sprocket 322 is keyed to screw 343 which engages nut 343a of Figure 1 mounted on frame 325. Frame 325 holds the Sprocket 323is keyed to screw 330 which engages nut 33! on frame 332 shown on Figures 1 and 3. Frame 332 serves to hold front gauge 25 and also the folding guide bar 39. Since the sprocket 322 contains half as many teeth as the sprocket 323 and since their respective screws 343 and 330 have the same lead, the frame 325 which holds the side gauge 326 will be moved twice as far as the frame 332 for a given movement of the chain 321 and of the sprocket 320. The frames 325 and 332 are supported on bars 351 and 352 in Figure 3. These bars are held at both ends by the brackets 353 and 354 (Figure 6) which are mounted on housings 355 and 356, respectively.

Referring to Figure 10 in a similar manner, the cariage 312 is mounted on the two bars 16 and 300 which are in turn supported in the side frames of the machine.

In the foregoing I have described my invention solely in connection with an illustrative embodiment thereof. Since many modifications and variations of my invention will now be apparent extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine; means for moving said blanks successively against said stop members, means for folding over the side sections, said folding operation releasing said blanks from said stop, said folding means comprising a pair of oppositel disposed folding plates, means for rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the side sections during rotation, and rotating said side sections into face to face relation with the body of the blank; a pair of folding bars extending in the direction of movement of the blank, the outer edges of the folding bars coinciding substantially with the score lines between the main body of the blank and the extending side sections; a pair of longitudinal bars; said stop w members being mounted on said longitudinal bars, said longitudinal bars underlying the folding bars, said blank passing between said longitudinal bars and the folding bars; and a feed roll beneath the folding bars and biased upwardl toward the folding bars, drive means for said feed roll; an overrunning clutch connection between said drive means and said feed roll; said overrunning clutch connection permitting a blank to be moved in under said folding bars between said folding bars and said feed roll at greater speed than the driving speed of said feed roll.

2. In a folding machine for forming fiat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine, means for moving said. blanks successively against said stop members; means for folding over the side sections; means for releasing said stop members from said blanks on completion of the folding operation, means for moving said folded blanks over and beyond said stop membersafter the release of said stop members from said blanks, and means for holding down the adjoining edges of the side sections after folding, said means comprising a longitudinal slat; said slat being movable longitudinally and means operable from the side of the machine for moving said slat.

3. In a folding machine for forming fiat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said. collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine, means for moving said blanks successively against said stop members; means for folding over the side sections; means for releasing said stop members from said blanks on completion of the folding operation,

means for moving said folded blanks over and beyond said stop members after the release of said stop members from said blanks, and means for holding down the adjoining edges of the side sections after folding, said means comprising a longitudinal slat; said slat being movable longitudinally and means operable from the side of the machine for moving said slat, said last mentioned means comprising a rack connected to said slat; a rotatable shaft; a crank on one end of said shaft; and a gear on the other end meshing with said rack.

ALBERT F. SHIELDS.

EEFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

